North Port officer lied to investigators, report says

The report shows how Officer Melanie Turner, who resigned, used an on-duty officer's handcuffs for a sexual act. A third police officer was also suspended.

By SHELBY WEBB

More than two months after a sexually themed party led to the suicide of one officer and the resignation of another, the North Port Police Department released an internal investigation into its officers' conduct at the March 1 event.

An eight-page summary shows how Officer Melanie Turner, who resigned shortly before the investigation was complete, lied to investigators, used an on-duty officer's handcuffs for a sexual act and affected the “good order and reputation” of the North Port Police Department.

Three other officers also were named in the report, including Kishia Veigel, who was at the party, witnessed the misconduct and now faces a two-day suspension for not reporting the case to her supervisors.

Another officer, Jeff Wilson, was found to have acted appropriately. Wilson was outside during the time of the alleged misconduct but immediately notified his supervisors and authorities when he learned what happened.

Ricky Urbina, who was accused of sexual battery and false imprisonment, killed himself as Sarasota County sheriff's deputies were en route to take him into custody.

The release of the internal investigation is one of the final pieces in a sordid affair that has called into question North Port's handling of discipline and the culture among its police officers.

After the victim told off-duty officers at the party about the alleged sexual battery, sheriff's investigators launched an inquiry and moved to arrest both Urbina and Turner on March 20.

The State Attorney's Office later declined to prosecute Turner, citing a lack of evidence in the case.

The North Port Police Department's internal investigation into the party began on April 23, after the conclusion of the criminal investigation.

The investigation's summary shows how Urbina, who arrived at the party while on duty and wearing his full uniform, was invited by Turner.

Minutes after he arrived, the investigation summary said, Turner grabbed his handcuffs and restrained a male partygoer before removing the handcuffs.

Shortly after the male partygoer was released from handcuffs, Urbina used the same handcuffs to restrain the alleged victim while Turner “passively” participated.

Once the female partygoer was handcuffed, Urbina began a mock “pat down,” gliding his fingers down the inside of the female's legs up to her groin area.

He rubbed underneath and on top of her breasts.

Urbina then helped the victim down to her knees, grabbed the victim by the hair, and pulled her head backward, while making a gesture meant to imitate a sex act.

Veigel, a fellow North Port officer, saw this portion of the incident and told investigators “it seemed like (the victim) was half thinking this was a joke and half thinking this was inappropriate.”

“She seemed a little uneasy, but still kind of laughing along basically,” Veigel told investigators.

After the gesture, Urbina helped the victim to her feet and led her into the home's master bedroom along with Turner.

Veigel told investigators she did not see the three go into the bedroom, but she did see them leave.

Shortly after the victim told others she was sexually battered, Wilson, another officer who was also at the party, asked Turner what happened in the bedroom.

Wilson told investigators he was outside during the episode and did not see the alleged victim handcuffed or the trio enter the room.

Turner told Wilson nothing happened and she didn't know what he was talking about.

The victim's boyfriend then confronted Turner, “screaming” that she was not welcome at his house.

Veigel told Turner it would be best if she went home.

It is not clear how Turner, who admitted to being drunk at the party, got back to her home.

But shortly after she arrived, she spoke with an off-duty DeSoto County sheriff's deputy about the allegations. The DeSoto deputy told investigators that Turner admitted she, Urbina and the victim went into the bedroom, but just “laughed and joked around.”

When Sarasota County deputies asked her about what happened in the bedroom — just a few hours after her conversation with the off-duty DeSoto deputy — Turner said she did not remember going into the bedroom with Urbina or the other woman.

Sarasota deputies also asked if she had handcuffed or removed handcuffs from anyone at the party. She replied: “No, I didn't have my handcuffs with me.”

As the Sarasota County criminal investigation wrapped up, North Port internal investigators set up meetings with Turner and Veigel.

Turner and her Tampa-based attorney, Diane Morton, met with investigators at 10 a.m. May 15.

Both women reviewed investigation documents, which contained the allegations against Turner.

Turner resigned by 2:30 p.m. the same day without making any statements to internal investigators.

Despite Turner's resignation, North Port investigators continued their inquiry and sustained several allegations against her, including: conduct unbecoming an officer, moral character violation and untruthfulness in an official proceeding.

One allegation against Turner — “conformance with laws” — was not sustained because there was “not enough information” to show that she violated that standard.

North Port Police Chief Kevin Vespia said he has sent a request to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement regarding Turner's status as a state certified Florida law enforcement officer.

Veigel was cited for “conduct unbecoming” because investigators say she failed to stop Urbina when he handcuffed and “patted down” the alleged victim.

“Officer Veigel's failure to intervene and/or promptly report the actions of Officer Urbina allowed the act to escalate in the bedroom,” the investigation summary said.

Veigel will be placed on a two-day suspension, the maximum penalty allowed under the North Port Police Department's Standard Operating Procedures.

After the internal investigation summary was released, Vespia said the conduct at the party was inexcusable.

“I will not stand here and make excuses for the actions of these few officers who violated our policy and the public trust, as they were wrong and they know they acted inappropriately,” Vespia said in a statement.

“However, I will defend the majority of employees within the North Port Police Department who continually do the right thing each and every day. I ask the citizens to please not judge the many great employees we have here in the department based on the actions of a few.”

EARLIER: More than two months after a sexually themed party led to the suicide of one officer and the resignation of another, the North Port Police Department released an internal investigation into its officers' conduct at the March 1 event.

An eight-page summary shows how Officer Melanie Turner, who resigned shortly before the investigation was complete, lied to investigators, used an on-duty officer's handcuffs for a sexual act and affected the “good order and reputation” of the North Port Police Department.

Three other officers also were named in the report, including Kishia Veigel, who was at the party, witnessed the misconduct and now faces a two-day suspension for not reporting the case to her supervisors.

Another officer, Jeff Wilson, was found to have acted appropriately. Wilson was outside during the time of the alleged misconduct but immediately notified his supervisors and authorities when he learned what happened.

Ricky Urbina, who was accused of sexual battery and false imprisonment, killed himself as Sarasota County sheriff's deputies were en route to take him into custody.

The release of the internal investigation is one of the final pieces in a sordid affair that has called into question North Port's handling of discipline and the culture among its police officers.

After the victim told off-duty officers at the party about the alleged sexual battery, sheriff's investigators launched an inquiry and moved to arrest both Urbina and Turner on March 20.

The State Attorney's Office later declined to prosecute Turner, citing a lack of evidence in the case.

The North Port Police Department's internal investigation into the party began on April 23, after the conclusion of the criminal investigation.

The investigation's summary shows how Urbina, who arrived at the party while on-duty and wearing his full uniform, was invited by Turner.

Minutes after he arrived, the investigation summary said, Turner grabbed his handcuffs and restrained a male partygoer before removing the handcuffs.

Shortly after the male partygoer was released from handcuffs, Urbina used the same handcuffs to restrain the alleged victim while Turner “passively” participated.

Once the female partygoer was handcuffed, Urbina began a mock “pat down,” gliding his fingers down the inside of the female's legs up to her groin area.

He rubbed underneath and on top of her breasts.

Urbina then helped the victim down to her knees, grabbed the victim by the hair, and pulled her head backwards, while making a gesture meant to imitate a sex act.

Veigel, a fellow North Port officer, saw this portion of the incident and told investigators “it seemed like (the victim) was half thinking this was a joke and half thinking this was inappropriate.”

“She seemed a little uneasy, but still kind of laughing along basically,” Veigel told investigators.

After the gesture, Urbina helped the victim to her feet and led her into the home's master bedroom along with Turner.

Veigel told investigators she did not see the three go into the bedroom, but she did see them leave.

Shortly after the victim told others she was sexually battered, Wilson, another officer who was also at the party, asked Turner what happened in the bedroom.

Wilson told investigators he was outside during the episode and did not see the alleged victim handcuffed or the trio enter the room.

Turner told Wilson nothing happened and she didn't know what he was talking about.

The victim's boyfriend then confronted Turner, “screaming” that she was not welcome at his house.

Veigel told Turner it would be best if she went home.

It is not clear how Turner, who admitted to being drunk at the party, got back to her home.

But shortly after she arrived, she spoke with an off-duty DeSoto County Sheriff's deputy about the allegations. The DeSoto deputy told investigators that Turner admitted she, Urbina and the victim went into the bedroom, but just “laughed and joked around.”

When Sarasota County deputies asked her about what happened in the bedroom — just a few hours after her conversation with the off-duty DeSoto deputy — Turner said she did not remember going into the bedroom with Urbina or the other woman.

Sarasota deputies also asked if she had handcuffed or removed handcuffs from anyone at the party. She replied: “No, I didn't have my handcuffs with me.”

As the Sarasota County criminal investigation wrapped up, North Port internal investigators set up meetings with Turner and Veigel.

Turner and her Tampa-based attorney, Diane Morton, met with investigators at 10 a.m. on May 15.

Both women reviewed investigation documents, which contained the allegations against Turner.

Turner resigned by 2:30 p.m. the same day without making any statements to internal investigators.

Despite Turner's resignation, North Port investigators continued their inquiry and sustained several allegations against her, including: conduct unbecoming an officer, moral character violation and untruthfulness in an official proceeding.

One allegation against Turner — “conformance with laws” — was not sustained because there was “not enough information” to show that she violated that standard.

North Port Police Chief Kevin Vespia said he has sent a request to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement regarding Turner's status as a state certified Florida law enforcement officer.

Veigel was cited for “conduct unbecoming” because investigators say she failed to stop Urbina when he handcuffed and “patted down” the alleged victim.

“Officer Veigel's failure to intervene and/or promptly report the actions of Officer Urbina allowed the act to escalate in the bedroom,” the investigation summary said.

Veigel will be placed on a two-day suspension, the maximum penalty allowed under the North Port Police Department's Standard Operating Procedures.

After the internal investigation summary was released, Vespia said the conduct at the party was inexcusable.

“I will not stand here and make excuses for the actions of these few officers who violated our policy and the public trust, as they were wrong and they know they acted inappropriately,” Vespia said in a statement.

“However, I will defend the majority of employees within the North Port Police Department who continually do the right thing each and every day. I ask the citizens to please not judge the many great employees we have here in the department based on the actions of a few.”